Software:Redline (1999 video game)

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Short description: 1999 video game
Redline
Cover art
Developer(s)Beyond Games
Publisher(s)Accolade (US), Electronic Arts (EU)
Platform(s)Windows
Release
Genre(s)Vehicular combat, first-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Redline is a 1999 post-apocalyptic combination first-person shooter/car combat game for Windows. It was developed by Beyond Games and published by Accolade. In Europe, the game is known as Redline - Gang Warfare: 2066. It is a spiritual successor to the Atari Lynx video game BattleWheels.[2] The game was noted for allowing players to enter or exit vehicles during combat at anytime, thus combining the genres of car combat and first-person shooting. This was the last game Accolade published before being acquired by Infogrames.

History

In early 1995, an updated version of the 1993 Atari Lynx handheld video game BattleWheels was announced. It was intended to be released on both PC and the Atari Jaguar in late 1995; however, developer Beyond Games was occupied with the fighting game Ultra Vortek. The Atari Jaguar was eventually discontinued in early 1996, and Beyond Games shifted its BattleWheels project to be primarily a PC game. They then decided to change the name of the game to Redline in 1997. It was initially going to be released at the end of 1997; however, the date got pushed back numerous times. The game was finally released in March 1999.

The game blends the two genres also found in its predecessor: car combat and first-person shooting.[3] It contains a linear single-player storyline, which consists of the aftermath of an apocalypse, caused by wealthy corporations (Insiders) that were angered and financially damaged by the general public's (Outsiders) use of free orgone energy. The protagonist is an unnamed silent Outsider, who battles both Insiders and other gangs while increasing his reputation in a like-minded gang called The Company. Redline included support to be played online using the MPlayer.com and Heat.net online services. It was available for play on their demo version even before the game was released. After those companies shut down, servers were moved to GameSpy Arcade.

Shortly after release, the publisher, Accolade, was bought out by Infogrames. Due to the previous delays and also the new internal mergers, post-release support for Redline ceased after only one small official patch was released; thus, there was no way to edit or mod the game.[4] Due to this, unlike other '90s PC games, only a small fan community has existed for the title.

A PlayStation version of the game was planned to be more action-intensive than the Windows version,[5] but was eventually cancelled. Afterwards, a sequel/spinoff named Redline Arena was planned for the Dreamcast, but that too was cancelled.[6] Elements from that project were worked into the PlayStation 2 game Motor Mayhem. Tommo purchased the rights to Redline and digitally published it through its Retroism brand in 2015;[7] thus, the game was re-released on Steam and GOG.com, albeit unchanged from the original release.

Reception

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings71%[8]
Review scores
PublicationScore
CGSPStarStarHalf star[10]
CGWStarStarStarHalf star[11]
Edge4/10[12]
GameProStarStarStarHalf star[13]
GameRevolutionB+[14]
GameSpot7.6/10[15]
IGN7.1/10[16]
Next GenerationStarStar[17]
PC Gamer (US)81%[19]
PC PowerPlay83%[20]
PC Zone79%[21]
Personal Computer WorldStarStarStarStarStar[22]

The game received above average reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[8] Most reviewers praised the graphics and premise; however, they were divided on the gameplay itself (the blending of car combat and first-person shooting). Next Generation rated the game two stars out of five, and called it "a title that's a misfire all around. Combining two different types of gameplay into one game is a terrific idea, but someone should have mentioned that welding a mediocre first-person shooter onto a mediocre car-combat game is not the way to make the whole better than the sum of its parts."[17] In contrast, Computer Gaming World rated the game three and a half stars out of five, and stated that "While other games have tried to mix vehicular and on-foot combat and done it badly (think Necrodome), Redline does a better job of blending the two into a flashy, fast-paced package."[11]

References

  1. ↑ GameSpot staff (March 24, 1998). "New Releases". Ziff Davis. http://headline.gamespot.com/news/99_03/24_pc_new/index.html. 
  2. ↑ "Interview with Kris Johnson, Founder of Beyond Games, Developer of the Cancelled Redline Arena". June 30, 2018. https://www.dreamcastlive.net/blogs/post/Interview-with-Kris-Johnson-Founder-of-Beyond-Games. 
  3. ↑ "Redline". GamePro (IDG) (114): 70. March 1998. 
  4. ↑ "Official 1.1 Patch Released". https://www.fileplanet.com/archive/p-108/Redline-v1-1-Patch. 
  5. ↑ "NG Alphas - Redline". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (32): 76. August 1997. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_32/page/n77. 
  6. ↑ Monokoma (November 13, 2019). "Entry on Cancelled Redline Arena". https://www.unseen64.net/2009/01/24/redline-arena-dreamcast-cancelled/. 
  7. ↑ "Purchase Agreement between Atari, Inc. and Rebellion Developments, Stardock & Tommo". July 22, 2013. https://docs.bmcgroup.com/Atari/nysb_1-13-bk-10176_313.pdf. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Redline for PC". CBS Interactive. http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/569.asp. 
  9. ↑ Jensen, Chris (April 13, 1999). "Redline". CNET. http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-2660,00.html. 
  10. ↑ Chick, Tom (April 23, 1999). "Redline". Strategy Plus, Inc.. http://www.cdmag.com/articles/019/071/redline_review.html. 
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Clarkson, Mark (July 1999). "The Bloody Red Line (Redline Review)". Computer Gaming World (Ziff Davis) (180): 123. http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_180.pdf. Retrieved January 30, 2019. 
  12. ↑ Edge staff (May 1999). "Redline". Edge (Future Publishing) (71): 78. https://archive.org/details/edgeuk071/page/n71/mode/2up. Retrieved May 7, 2021. 
  13. ↑ Asher, Mark (1999). "Redline Review for PC on GamePro.com". GamePro (IDG Entertainment). http://gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/677.shtml. Retrieved January 31, 2019. 
  14. ↑ Johnny B. (May 1999). "Redline Review". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/32803-redline-review. 
  15. ↑ Smith, Josh (May 3, 1999). "Redline Review". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/redline-review/1900-2532774/. 
  16. ↑ Ward, Trent C. (March 29, 1999). "Redline". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/03/30/redline-2. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Redline". Next Generation (Imagine Media) (54): 95. June 1999. https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_54/page/n95/mode/2up. Retrieved May 7, 2021. 
  18. ↑ D'Aprile, Jason (June 1999). "Redline". PC Accelerator (Imagine Media) (10): 79. https://archive.org/details/PCXL10Jun1999/page/n77/mode/2up. Retrieved May 7, 2021. 
  19. ↑ Williamson, Colin (June 1999). "Redline". PC Gamer (Imagine Media) 6 (6): 152. https://archive.org/details/pcgamer199906/page/n161/mode/2up. Retrieved May 7, 2021. 
  20. ↑ Jones, Gareth (June 1999). "Redline". PC Powerplay (Next plc) (37): 86. https://archive.org/details/PCPowerplay-037-1999-06. Retrieved May 14, 2021. 
  21. ↑ Brooker, Charlie (June 1999). "PC Review: Redline". PC Zone (Future plc) (77): 99. https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_077_1999-06_Dennis_Publishing_GB. Retrieved May 14, 2021. 
  22. ↑ Lytle, J Mark (August 1999). "Redline". Personal Computer World: 275. https://archive.org/details/PersonalComputerWorldMagazine/PCW%20199908%20August%20Created%20From%20PCW%20Cover%20CD/page/n153/mode/2up. 
  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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